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2011 Buick Regal

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Regal years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Buick Regal are substantially higher than the model-year median of 29.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

204 reports with mileage · 75 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 108 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports7 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

279 reports
77,000 miles · Jul 7, 2020
Service Brakes

BRAKE PEDAL STUCK PARTIALLY DEPRESSED AND BRAKES NOT FULLY RELEASING. STARTED IMMEDIATELY UPON VEHICLE IGNITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN ON A HOT DAY. CAR BECOMES UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS EITHER YOU ACCELERATE WITH BRAKES ENGAGED OR HAVE TO MANUALLY LIFT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE CORRECT POSITION TO RELEASE THE BRAKES…

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BRAKE PEDAL STUCK PARTIALLY DEPRESSED AND BRAKES NOT FULLY RELEASING. STARTED IMMEDIATELY UPON VEHICLE IGNITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN ON A HOT DAY. CAR BECOMES UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS EITHER YOU ACCELERATE WITH BRAKES ENGAGED OR HAVE TO MANUALLY LIFT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE CORRECT POSITION TO RELEASE THE BRAKES AFTER EVERY INSTANCE OF USING THE BRAKE. SEEMS TO BE TRIGGERED BY HOT WEATHER AND, THEREFORE, HIGH CAR TEMPERATURE. SAME ISSUE OCCURRED IN 2018 BUT WAS NOT RECOGNIZED AT THE TIME AND COULD NOT BE RECREATED OR DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER SERVICE CENTER.

NHTSA ODI #11337882

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainService Brakes

NONE OF THE 4 RECALLS WERE FIXED ON THIS 2011 BUICK REGAL CXL 2.4L CAR WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT BILLION AUTO IN IOWA CITY, IOWA. THE STABILITRAK IS BAD AND WAS NEVER BROUGHT UP IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING THE CAR AND I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS IN THE REAR BOTH SIDES 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. I…

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NONE OF THE 4 RECALLS WERE FIXED ON THIS 2011 BUICK REGAL CXL 2.4L CAR WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT BILLION AUTO IN IOWA CITY, IOWA. THE STABILITRAK IS BAD AND WAS NEVER BROUGHT UP IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING THE CAR AND I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS IN THE REAR BOTH SIDES 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. I'M NOT HAPPY.

NHTSA ODI #11337535

97,000 miles · Jul 2, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine

CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR A FEW RECALLS,THEY SAID THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS FOR RECALLS SO WHEN THEY GOT THE PARTS THEY CALLED AND SET ME A TIME TO GET THEM FIXED WELL WHEN I GOT THERE THEY SAID THAT IT ONLY HAD 1 RECALL AND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART THAT WAS ALREADY SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO BEGAN WITH AND THEY WOUL…

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CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR A FEW RECALLS,THEY SAID THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS FOR RECALLS SO WHEN THEY GOT THE PARTS THEY CALLED AND SET ME A TIME TO GET THEM FIXED WELL WHEN I GOT THERE THEY SAID THAT IT ONLY HAD 1 RECALL AND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART THAT WAS ALREADY SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO BEGAN WITH AND THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THEY GET THE PART IN "STILL WAITING ON THAT CALL" THE VEHICLE HAS 97000 MILES AND IS ALSO BURNING OIL FAST AND SMOKING OUT THE EXHAUST,THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE ITS VIN SPECIFIC SO THE BILL WOULD BE ON ME TO HAVE THE ENGINE TORE DOWN TO SEE WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO BURN OIL BUT I NO IT'S BECAUSE OF PREMATURE WEAR OF THE PISTON RINGS AFTER THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ON THESE ENGINES SO FAR BUT WHAT EVER THE CASE THEY HAVE YET TO CALL ME BACK AND IT'S BEEN ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ODI #11337094

156,013 miles · Mar 26, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE CITY ROAD AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF AND LOST ALL POWER TO EVERYTHING. I ALMOST GOT HIT. I THEN TURNED MY CAR BACK ON AND THE SERVICE STABILITY TRAC LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I COULD NEARLY GET IT TO GO AT ALL AND MY CAR WAS SHAKING AND SPUTTERING. IT WAS THE SCARIEST THING I HA…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE CITY ROAD AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF AND LOST ALL POWER TO EVERYTHING. I ALMOST GOT HIT. I THEN TURNED MY CAR BACK ON AND THE SERVICE STABILITY TRAC LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I COULD NEARLY GET IT TO GO AT ALL AND MY CAR WAS SHAKING AND SPUTTERING. IT WAS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH. I HAD IT PUT IN THE SHOP ON 10/26/2018 AND NOW IT JUST HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN AND ITS 03/26/2020.

NHTSA ODI #11319405

116,000 miles · Mar 22, 2020
Engine

TIMING CHAIN LOOSENED DUE TO TENSIONER BREAKING DUE TO THE BOLT HOLDING IT IN PLACE WIDENING THE HOLE IT WAS IN OVER TIME CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP TIME AND POSSIBLY BENDING ALL THE VALVES IN THE MOTOR. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STALLED AND SHUT OFF. WE HAD JUST MADE A TURN SO LUCKILY WE WERE NOT GOING FAST WHEN …

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TIMING CHAIN LOOSENED DUE TO TENSIONER BREAKING DUE TO THE BOLT HOLDING IT IN PLACE WIDENING THE HOLE IT WAS IN OVER TIME CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP TIME AND POSSIBLY BENDING ALL THE VALVES IN THE MOTOR. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STALLED AND SHUT OFF. WE HAD JUST MADE A TURN SO LUCKILY WE WERE NOT GOING FAST WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. NO CODES CAME UP ON THE COMPUTER EITHER WHEN CHECKED.

NHTSA ODI #11318937

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesWheels

IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS 3 TIMES IN 1 YEAR IN MY 2011 BUICK REGAL CXL 2.4L. NOW I'M GETTING READY TO DO IT FOR A 4TH TIME. I WAS SOLD CAR THAT HAD A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY EXHAUST THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THERE UNTIL WINTER CAME AND HAD TO RUN THE HEAT. THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM CAME …

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IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS 3 TIMES IN 1 YEAR IN MY 2011 BUICK REGAL CXL 2.4L. NOW I'M GETTING READY TO DO IT FOR A 4TH TIME. I WAS SOLD CAR THAT HAD A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY EXHAUST THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THERE UNTIL WINTER CAME AND HAD TO RUN THE HEAT. THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM CAME ON OUT OF THE BLUE AND SHUT MY CAR OFF GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. I'M JUST FED UP AND OVER IT. ITS COSTING ME WAY TOO MUCH MONEY FOR ONLY ONLY THE CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW.

NHTSA ODI #11316933

58 miles · Feb 29, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 95 AND CAR BRAKES SEEMED TO VIBRATE ,CAR DROPPED INTO STABIL TRAK/TRACTION MODE !I WAS GOING ABOUT 30-40 MILES PER HOUR THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC I PULLED OVER TRIED TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS TO TAKE STABILITY TRAC OFF AND CAR LOCKED ITSELF I AM CURRENTLY HAVING IT TOWED

NHTSA ODI #11312221

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2020
Fuel System, Gasoline

2011 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED NOISES COULD BE HEARD COMING FORM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED INITIALLY, THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT WAS NOT. VEHI…

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2011 BUICK REGAL. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED NOISES COULD BE HEARD COMING FORM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED INITIALLY, THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT WAS NOT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #11311256

125 miles · Feb 25, 2020
Engine

TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE WHICH CAUSE TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT AT 125K

NHTSA ODI #11311525

159,000 miles · Jan 31, 2020
Engine

MY 2011 BUICK REGAL WITH THE 2.4L 4CYL HAS BEEN EXCESSIVELY CONSUMING OIL. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED AROUND 60K MILES, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE COMPLETE ENGINE WAS REPLACED (SEE CARFAX IMAGE ATTACHED, CONFIRMED WITH DEALER). THOSE REPAIRS HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE I OWNED THIS VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A FAILU…

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MY 2011 BUICK REGAL WITH THE 2.4L 4CYL HAS BEEN EXCESSIVELY CONSUMING OIL. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED AROUND 60K MILES, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE COMPLETE ENGINE WAS REPLACED (SEE CARFAX IMAGE ATTACHED, CONFIRMED WITH DEALER). THOSE REPAIRS HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE I OWNED THIS VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A FAILURE WITHIN MY ENGINE AND THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COSTLY TO ME. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AS IT'S BEEN A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE ENGINES. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT 159K MILES AND I'VE BEEN ADDING A QUART OR MORE OF OIL BETWEEN CHANGES.

NHTSA ODI #11306333

Official recalls

4

16V517000 · Electrical System:wiring; Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Jul 7, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured November 3, 2009, to March 25, 2011, equipped with 8-way power adjustable front seats. The power seat wiring harness may contact the seat frame, causing the wires to chafe.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Chafed harness wires may cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the wiring harness, and repair any chafed wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 30710.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured November 3, 2009, to March 25, 2011, equipped with 8-way power adjustable front seats. The power seat wiring harness may contact the seat frame, causing the wires to chafe.

Consequence: Chafed harness wires may cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the wiring harness, and repair any chafed wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 30710.

Electrical System:wiring

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured November 3, 2009, to March 25, 2011, equipped with 8-way power adjustable front seats. The power seat wiring harness may contact the seat frame, causing the wires to chafe.

Consequence: Chafed harness wires may cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the wiring harness, and repair any chafed wires as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 30710.

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

14V447000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Jul 23, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

12V484000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

Oct 4, 2012

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with two turn signal bulbs in each front turn signal. If one of the two front turn signal bulbs burn out in either front turn signal lamp, there is no indication to the driver. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle. If half of a front turn signal is not illuminating, other driver's may not be aware that the affected vehicle is turning, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12212.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.